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ry thiefess；〃 having printed the verses with a nom de plume in his magazine without my knowledge。 It was awkward to have to come to my own defense。 But the curious incident gave the song a wide circulation。
I did not attempt writing for money until it became a necessity； when my health failed at teaching； although I should long before then have liked to spend my whole time with my pen； could I have done so。 But it was imperative that I should have an assured income； however small； and every one who has tried it knows how uncertain a support one's pen is； unless it has become very famous indeed。 My life as a teacher； however； I regard as part of my best preparation for whatever I have since written。 I do not know but I should recommend five or ten years of teaching as the most profitable apprenticeship for a young person who wished to become an author。 To be a good teacher implies self…discipline； and a book written without something of that sort of personal preparation cannot be a very valuable one。
Success in writing may mean many different things。 I do not know that I have ever reached it； except in the sense of liking better and better to write； and of finding expression easier。 It is something to have won the privilege of going on。 Sympathy and recognition are worth a great deal； the power to touch human beings inwardly and nobly is worth far more。 The hope of attaining to such results； if only occasionally； must be a writer's best inspiration。
So far as successful publication goes； perhaps the first I considered so came when a poem of mine was accepted by the 〃Atlantic Monthly。〃 Its title was 〃The Rose Enthroned；〃 and as the poet Lowell was at that time editing the magazine I felt especially gratified。 That and another poem； 〃The Loyal Woman's No；〃 written early in the War of the Rebellion； were each attributed to a different person among our prominent poets； the 〃Atlantic〃 at that time not giving authors' signatures。 Of course I knew the unlikeness； nevertheless； those who made the mistake paid me an unintentional compliment。 Compliments； however； are very cheap； and by no means signify success。 I have always regarded it as a better ambition to be a true woman than to become a successful writer。 To be the second would never have seemed to me desirable； without also being the first。
In concluding； let me say to you； dear girls； for whom these pages have been written； that if I have learned anything by living； it is this；that the meaning of life is education； not through book…knowledge alone； sometimes entirely without it。 Education is growth； the development of our best possibilities from within outward； and it cannot be carried on as it should be except in a school； just such a school as we all find ourselves inthis world of human beings by whom we are surrounded。 The beauty of belonging to this school is that we cannot learn anything in it by ourselves alone； but for and with our fellowpupils； the wide earth over。 We can never expect promotion here； except by taking our place among the lowest； and sharing their difficulties until they are removed； and we all become graduates together for a higher school。
Humility； Sympathy； Helpfulness； and Faith are the best teachers in this great university； and none of us are well educated who do not accept their training。 The real satisfaction of living is； and must forever be； the education of all for each； and of each for all。 So let us all try together to be good and faithful women； and not care too much for what the world may think of us or of our abilities！
My little story is not a remarkable one； for I have never attempted remarkable things。 In the words of one of our honored elder writers； given in reply to a youthful aspirant who had asked for some points of her 〃literary career；〃〃I never had a career。〃
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